Sex, Maids and Videotape: L'Affaire DSK

By Delia LloydBy Delia LloydMay 2, 2012

Sex scandals rarely die and disappear. They’re usually far too salacious, improbable and/or disturbing for that. Which is perhaps why I find myself secretly delighted to see the sexual escapades of former IMF Chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn back in the news.

Remember Strauss-Kahn? He was that very distinguished international statesman whose career came to a screeching halt last May when he was accused of raping a maid - Nafissatou Diallo - at an upscale hotel in New York City. While the criminal case against DSK (as he’s known in his native France) was dismissed last summer due to questions about Ms. Diallo’s veracity, she subsequently brought a civil suit against Mr. Strauss-Kahn for sexual assault.

DSK tried to prevent this civil suit from going forward - pleading diplomatic immunity . But on Tuesday a Bronx Judge ruled against this “Hail Mary” pass on DSK’s part, and will allow the suit to proceed. Among other things, an entirely new set of legal proceedings will require the Frenchman to return to New York for a series of depositions on the initial alleged crime.

Maybe it was a conspiracy; maybe it wasn’t. Hopefully, the evidence uncovered in the forthcoming civil trial will answer some of the questions that have swirled around this case from its inception. Then we can all find out what really happened during those crucial six or seven minutes in a hotel room one year ago.